First Nations look to open mill

“We’re focussed on finding a second-growth, value-added operation somewhere on Vancouver Island and that’s something that we’re working with the federal government on,” he said. “We just received a substantial grant to look into building a new facility that can handle second-growth that can help add value to lower-value trees like Hemlock.”

Jack said while a huge percentage of BC’s forestry revenue comes from the United States, they need to find new demand.

This despite 21 BC lumber mills closing since 2023 and more than 15,000 forestry jobs lost since 2022.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Major Projects Office in Ottawa were travelling the west coast this month, meeting with First Nations regarding proposed projects that could affect their rights.

The MPO is a special federal agency established to fast-track nation-building and interprovincial infrastructure projects such as transmission lines and LNG expansions in B.C.

They met with some west coast First Nations regarding the west coast oil pipline and the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 projects, which could affect fishing rights for Fraser River sockeye and their domestic fishing areas.

Representatives from the Maa-nulth Treaty Society said they share Canada’s interest in economic development on the west coast.